Submarine escapement device



Oct. 29, 1929. R, A TAYLOR 1,733,436

SUBMARINE ES CAPEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheb 1@Hof/mui o.

Oct. 29, 1929. R. A. TAYLOR SUBMARINE ESCAPEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-SheetFiled NOV. 28. 1928 Rgmo/zdlylor' www Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND A. TAYLOR, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND SUBMARINEESCAPEMENT DEVICE rlhis invention relates to submarines, the primaryobject of the invention being to provide an escapement device forsubmarines so that the inmates of a submerged submarine may escape tothe surface of the water should the submarine be caused to sink due toan accident or damaged machinery.

An object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining anequalization of pressure above and below the door or ciosure used inclosing the escapement chamber or tube, so that the door may be openedreadily. A still further object ofthe invention is to provide meanswhich may be operated by the occupant of the escapement chamber or tubeto the end that the last person left in the submarine may escape bymanually operatedV means controlled from a point within the escapementchamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for operatingthe door of the escapement tube .which may be controlled manually or byair pressure at the will of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the 1nvention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what'is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

i Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a submarine illustratingescapement tubes VVconstructed in accordance with the invention aspositioned thereon. v

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view through the submarineand esoapement tube. Y

Figure is an enlarged fragmental view of the escapement tube, the dooror closure of the tube being shown in its open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesa submarine in which the escapement tubes forming the sub ject matt-erofthe present invention, are in Each escapement tube embodies acylindrical body portion 6 which is of a diameter and height to permit aperson to stand erect in the tube. At the upper end of the escapenienttube is a depression formed with an irregular surface conforming to thecontour of the edge of the door or closure 7 of the tube, so that awater tight connection between the closure 'l' and upper end of the tube6 will be assured. A threaded bolt 8 extends 60 through the upperportion of the tube 6 and passes into a threaded opening of the closure7, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, so that the closure willbe held down under normal conditions.

The closure 7 is hingedly connected to the body of the submarine, bymeans of the hinges 9 and is provided with a connecting member 10 towhich the link 11 is connected, the link 11 having pivotal connectionwith the arm 12, 7o which is formed integral with the arm 13 that rockson the bracket member 14. An operating rod 15 extends through the upperwall of the submarine and connects with the arm 13, through the mediumof the link 16, there being provided a gasket 17 surrounding the openingthrough which the rod 15 operates, to insure a water tight connection atthis point.

An operating lever indicated at 18 connects so with the rod 15 and haspivotal connection with the link 19 which in turn is pivotally connectedwith the block 2O which is secured to the inner surface of the submarinebody portion.

Disposed directly above the operating lever 18 is a cylinder 21 in whichthe piston 22 operates, the piston including a tubular portion 23 inwhich the rod 24 operates, the rod 24 being pivotally connected to theoperating 9o lever 18. The reference character 25 designates acompressed air tank which may be lilled with air in any suitable andwell known manner, and as shown communication is established between thetank 25 and cylinder 95 21, through the pipe 26. A valve 27 is disposedin the pipe line and may be operated to control the passage ofcompressed air to the cylinder 21 to operate the piston. Another valve28 is disposed in the pipe line 100 and extends into the escapement tubeso that this valve may be operated from a point within the escapementtube, to Control the passage of air to the cylinder 21.

A water inlet pipe 29 has its upper end 30 extended through the deck ofthe submarine, the pipe extending downwardly where it passes'into vtheescapement :tube 6 at its 'lower end. A valve 31 is provided in the pipe29 and may be operated to control the passage of sea water into the.eseapement tube. Another pipe 32 connects with the pipe 26 and has itslower end disposed adjacent to the bottom of the tube 6 to admit waterat the bottom of the tube 6, the pipe 32 being mounted within the tube6. The reference charaeter indicates a valve which may be controlled bythe person within the escapement tube so that water may enter throughthe pipe 32. The reference character 84 designates anout'let pipe thathas its upper end disposed at a point within a recess formed in theclosure 7 the lower end of the pipe extend-ing through the wall o't thevtube 6 where it'is supplied with a valve 3G. This outlet pipef permitsair to pass from the escapementtube as the water enters the escapementtube-through the pipe 32, and when tlieescapement tubeibecomes filledwith water the water will pass from the tube through the pipe .3 4indicating to the occupants of the submarine that the escapement tubehas been filled with water.` The valve 36 is now closed while .thevalves Bland ,3 3 remain open so that the pressure Zon opposite sides oflthe closure 7`is equalied .to the end that the closure may be easilyoperated by the lever 18. lVhen the closure 7 is moved to its openposition, the person in the tube `ascends to thesurfface of the water. Avalve 45 .is also in the pipeline 'Slland affords means for cuttingoi'lthe passage of water throughthe pipe 34:, from a point within theescapement tube. A pump 'indicated at 37 is in communication with ,theinterior of the escapement tube, through the pipe 38 so that water mayibe pumped from the escapemen't :tube after a person has left theescapenient tube, ,so that another person may enter .the tube. Vi'faterpasses from 4the pump, through the pipe 39 Athatha-s its discharge enddisposed exteriorly of the Submarine, there being provided a. checkvalue 40 so arranged that water cannot enter the pump through the .pipe39. The .escapemerit tube iis-provided with an entranceopeningnormallyelosed'by meansot the door ftfl suuportedbythe hingesther-e being profvigili-id la pivoted lateh' 4 3 operated ,by eitherside ofthe clooi',so that ,whena personenters .theesqapementtubeihemayloek the Cloer- *In the ,useLof the i@scrupulent tube, it iS to ibe.understood that ,the @Sealants O' the submarine @before @entering the4esca-pement tube 6, are supplied with water proof suits embodying,helmets so that sufficient breathing space is provided to supply airuntil the persons reach the surface of the water. As a person enters theescapement tube 6, the door is closed and the valve 31 is openedallowing sea water to enter the escapement tube at the bottom thereofuntil the escapement tube is filled.

When a person Yis to Vbe released from the escapement tube, the valve 36Yisl closed and the valve 31 remains open. The bolt 8 is now releasedand the operating lever 18 is pulled downwardly causing the Closure 7 toswing upwardly toits open position as shown by Figure 3.

After the person has been released from the escapement tube theoperating lever 18 is moved to close the closure 7 andthe water Vispumped from the eseapement tube whereupon another person to leave thesubmarine enters the eseapement tube and this operation is repeated.

The last person to leave the submarine now operates the lever 18 tofmovethe vclosure 7 to its closed position and Aafter the water has beenpumped from the escapement tube, the person enters the eseapement .tubelooking the door .41 after him. AThe valve isofeourse left open and thevalve` L15 is Operated to allow vair to pass through lpipel.' Valve ,33

is now operated allowing sea water to enter the escapement tube and whenthe es cap e ment tube .becomes yfilled with water, valve 4 5 is closed.Y When the person in the escapement tube is ready fto leave the-tube,the personoperates the valve 28 allowing air to pass I from the tank 25to point vabove the `piston 22 vin cylinderQl. It isobvious thattheVpistonwill move downwardly moving the operating lever 18 to lmove theclosure 7 `to its open position y whereupon the person intheeseapementtube will float to the surface of the water.

In order that the elosure 7 .may be moved to its closed position withthe .least possible resistance, a one-way valveflill is provided in theclosure which valve allows water to pass through the opening Vin Atheclosure as the closure moves downwardly. l claim:

1. An escapement-tubertorsubmarines, -including a bodyk Vportionlsecured within the submarine, a closure for normally closing the bodyportion, an operating mechanism including a cylinder, apistonoperatingin ,the

cylinder, vsaidpiston .having tubularextension, an operating-lever,a{rQClCQnnectedlwith the operating lever and extending into the tubularextension t0 lp elinit thel operating lever to vmore independently ofthe piston, means for directing empresse/,d t0 the cylinder to operatethe piston fandopeiiating lever, and means operated x10571121.18onereting lever for moving the closure to its'open and closedposition. t2. An escapement tube-for submarineain- Cil cluding a body portionsecured Within a submarine, the upper end of the body portion beingopen, a closure for normally closing the open end of the body portion,mechanical 5 means operated eXteriorly of the body portion for movingthe closure to its open position, pneumatically cont-rolled meanscontrolled from a point Within the body portion for operating themechanical closure operating means, and said mechanical closureoperating means adapted to be operated independently of thepneumatically controlled means.

3. An escapement tube for submarines, including a body portion securedWithin a submarine, the upper end of the body portion being open, aclosure for normally closing the open end of the body portion mechanicalclosure operating means connected with the closure, pneumaticallycontrolled closure 29 operating means including a cylinder and a piston,means for connecting the piston to the mechanicalr closure operatingmeans to operate the mechanical closure operating means, and saidmechanical closure operating means adapted to operate independently ofthe pneumatically controlled closure operating means. In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto .aHiXed my signature.

RAYMOND A. TAYLOR.

